The Kennel Club has issued an offer of a guaranteed Championship show for a period of at least 10 years, as an incentive for breed clubs to “amalgamate where appropriate” for the breed.
It comes as the group wants to encourage further breed clubs to “consider joining forces”. Those that do so will secure guaranteed Challenge Certificates (CCs) at their shows from 2022 for 10 years, according to the club.
The allocation of CCs within a number of breeds is reportedly affected by a “complex” rotation system among breed clubs.
Some can be complex due to the number of clubs and the number of available sets of CCs, requiring in some cases two, three or four year gaps between Championship shows.
According to the club, if breed clubs now successfully amalgamate, the newly registered clubs will be allocated a set of CCs on an annual basis.
The Kennel Club added that it “understands that some long established clubs might be very reluctant to consider amalgamation due to their long histories, but an amalgamation will help preserve the club’s heritage instead of the club risking future de-registration if their breed numbers continue to decline”.
Liz Stannard, The Kennel Club board member and Pekingese breeder, said: “I will not pretend that getting started on the amalgamation process was an easy task for the Pekingese clubs.
“However, in the end we had to accept that we simply had too many clubs for the breed and once a few of the clubs amalgamated and received their guaranteed championship status, a number of other clubs followed suit.”
She added: “This just goes to prove what can be achieved when breed clubs work together. Those clubs which have amalgamated have seen the benefits that such a move brings to their members as well as to the breed as a whole.
“Yes, we now have fewer breed clubs but they are holding prestigious, well attended shows, as well as judge education seminars, on a much more regular basis than in the period leading up to amalgamation, which can only be good news for the breed as well as for the future of the dog world in general.”
Kathryn Mansfield, The Kennel Club Secretary, said: “We now hope that other clubs, including those with complex rotations, will recognise the benefits and grasp this offer and choose to apply.
“We are keen to work together with those clubs which are considering amalgamation and we lend our full support to those that do, not least through the offer of guaranteed Championship status for at least 10 years.”
She added: “This is an important development for the future of dog showing and we hope that it will have a positive impact on the sport, its exhibitors and show societies.”
